Sports Digest: Surging Ireland rugby team ready for Italy

Ireland will meet Italy in a winner-takes-all Rugby World Cup clash in Dunedin on Sunday after Declan Kidney’s team hammered Russia and the Italians saw off the USA in New Zealand.

Kidney’s side maintained their 100% run and the push for the quarterfinals with a nine try demolition of Russia in a 62-12 win in Rotorua on Sunday.

Man of the Match Ronan O’Gara helped himself to 15 points on his first start of the tournament as the Irish remained on top of the Pool C table as three tries in the final minutes of the first half secured the bonus point early on.

Keith Earls scored two tries, one in each half, for an Ireland team that led 36-0 at the interval. Fergus McFadden, Sean O’Brien, Isaac Boss, Andrew Trimble, Rob Kearney, Shane Jennings and Tony Buckley also scored tries for the winners.

O’Gara hit one penalty and six conversions with replacement Jonathon Sexton adding the final conversion.

Afterwards, O’Gara urged Ireland to carry the momentum from their opening three games into Sunday’s clash with the Italians when a win will see them into last eight but a defeat will probably send them home.
---------------------

READ MORE:

Notre Dame Fighting Irish are back on track says Brian Kelly - VIDEO

Sports Digest: Surging Ireland soccer team ready for Italy

All-Ireland hero Ger Brennan en route to New York City

---------------------

“We’re in good shape but it counts for nothing unless we do the business in the final round,” said O’Gara. “There’s always some catch with this team. It’s a big weekend but it’s a weekend to look forward to.

“Now that we have this momentum it’s important that we don’t let go of it. Once you have momentum in sport, you must make the most of it.

“Mentally the squad is in a good place and that’s probably more important than to be in a good place physically.”

O’Gara staked his claim to start the Italian match with a faultless display against the Russians and is keen to start on Sunday.

He added, “I’ve always felt like I have an important role to play for this team, whether it’s as a starter or coming on.

“There’s a role for me and a really important one. Sometimes you can’t have much impact in half an hour, so it was great to get 67 minutes against Russia.

“I felt refreshed and comfortable and am enjoying it at the moment. I felt sharp out there. When we kept things simple we were good, when we overcomplicated things we weren’t so good so there’s a lesson there.

“It was a great team selection. There was good youth and good experience. The management got it right. There was a real excitement all week, we trained very well. There’s great hunger in the squad and that’s important.

​
Nster.com